Richard F. Cozzi

Richard Floyd Cozzi, Sr. was born March 19, 1941 in Yonkers, New York, son of Amerigo John Cozzi and Gertrude Floyd Cozzi. He is survived by Marilyn Marks Cozzi, his wife of 55 years; his son, Richard Cozzi, Jr.; daughter, Maribeth Cozzi Safi; daughter, Lorena Cozzi Henderson, and son, Stephen. He was blessed with grandchildren: Nicholas Cozzi, Abe Safi and Annie Safi. Besides his parents, he was predeceased by his brother, Jack; granddaughter, Bella; and sons-in-law, Heitham Safi and Larry Henderson.

Dick attended St. Barnabas School and Mt. St. Michael High School. While attending The Academy of Aeronautics in Queens, New York, he took flight training and was licensed at West Chester County Airport. He attended New York University before teaching at the Academy of Aeronautics. Dick joined Pan American World Airways in 1966 and trained on the 727 at Boeing in Seattle. He was stationed in Berlin, Germany, for a year and a half, transitioning the flight crews from the DC6 to the 727. Upon his return to the States, he went to Boeing for ground training on the new 747. He wrote courses for and taught pilots and flight engineers the 747 both in the classroom and in the simulator. He wrote the first Pan Am pilot manuals for the 747. It was then that he met Marilyn, a flight attendant also in the training department. They married and lived on Long Island, raising their family.

After the 747 initial training was complete, he worked in the Flight Operations offices at Kennedy Airport before creating the Pan Am Shuttle, which flew out of the Pan Am owned Marine Air Terminal in Queens. When Donald Trump bought the Eastern Airlines Shuttle, he asked Dick to be its President, a job and business relationship he truly enjoyed. He then became President of DHL Airways, which necessitated the family move from Connecticut to Cincinnati. Moving to Florida, he was the president of Custom Air Transport before retiring back to Cincinnati to be near the children and friends.

He took immense pride in his family and found joy in gathering with loved ones for holidays and special occasions. Dick was known for his unwavering work ethic and generous spirit. His Catholic faith was always an important aspect of his life, and he tried to live it well.

In retirement, he was active as an airline consultant and cherished being a Knight of Columbus and the friends he made there. He also enjoyed volunteering with the Comboni Missionaries. All his life, Dick loved fishing and had opportunities to do so in Alaska, Canada, Florida and Long Island. When the children were younger, while working at Pan Am, European travel was always a frequent and great delight.

Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Tuesday, January 13, 2026 at 10:30AM at Immaculate Heart of Mary Church, 7820 Beechmont Ave., Cincinnati, OH 45255. Visitation will be held on Monday, January 12 from 5-8PM at T.P. White & Sons Funeral Home, 2050 Beechmont Ave., Mt. Washington.

In lieu of flowers, a donation to the Franciscan Brothers, c/o Brother Edward Kesler, CFP, P.O. Box 30359, Cincinnati, OH. 45230 or to the Comboni Missionaries, 1318 Nagel Road, Cincinnati, OH. 45255 would be greatly appreciated.